Carlow Man Does the Double - Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane Trophy

 

Richard Kearney leads Garrett McKenna and Keith Hogg during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Naas, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

For the opening round of the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane Championship drivers made their way to Mondello Park in county Kildare. The new season has brought in some new changes to the cars and a return of Keith Hogg and new drivers Vinny Keogh, Niall O’Flynn and Sean Kiernan. Weather was good for qualifying where Richard Kearney from Leighlinbridge wanted to start from where he left off last year on pole position.

With cars now running on slick tyres in the dry and wet tyres for wet conditions it was new for everyone. It didn’t make any difference to Kearney who claimed pole position by only 0.194 of a second from Keith Hogg. Garrett McKenna showed good form qualifying in third place.

Keith Hogg leads Richard Kearney during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Naas, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg

As the lights went out Hogg got the best start and lead Kearney and the field into the first turn. Mckenna held his third place from Chriss Dunne as they all made their way out to turn three. No change but the top three were nose to tail as they made their way to the final turn where it looked as though Kearney was going to make a lunge for the lead. Mckenna, though had the idea first and with a very late breaking move he passed both men on the inside. Kearney was to wise for that one and cut back on the inside and moved from third to first as the other two ran wide.

With a clear road ahead, he could build a lead which he did over the next number of laps but just as he could control the race the safety car was brought out. It let both Mckenna and Hogg to close and give them another chance to stay with Kearney. McKenna got into the lead just before the green flag was shown to them on the start finish straight but Kearney retook the lead going into turn one while McKenna stayed in second his race was run as they exited turn one. A mechanical problem forced him out. It left Hogg to chase Kearney down which he did aided by another safety car. Once it again Kearney held firm in the lead and pulled enough of a gap over the final laps to take victory.

Keith Hogg leads the field into turn 1 during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Naas, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Garrett McKenna leads Keith Hogg during the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Naas, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Race two was much anticipated but sadly for the spectators Kearney was just too strong for Hogg this time after the opening laps he built his lead further. The action was behind them though for third place where Tome Foley drove brilliantly in the early stages defending well from Vinny Keogh, Brendan Carr and Sean Keogh. Sadly, for Carr his race was run after two laps with mechanical failure. By Halfway Keogh was into third but too far back to get any higher up the field. Kearney reeled off the laps in comfort and took the chequered flag by four seconds to dominate the race. Hogg came home in second with Keogh in third.

Richard Kearney celebrates after winning the Airportcars.ie Formula Sheane race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Naas, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg

Speaking after the race Kearney was pleased with his days work. “ That send race went more to plan got a gap over Keith when I got the head down after the opening laps when the tyres got up to temperature. It is a nice start to the championship with two wins ahead of Bisopscourt which I love racing these cars at.”

Cross Makes It Two from Two - Selco.ie Formula Vee Championship

15-05-2023: Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race as Jack Byrne, Sheane, spins out. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Current Formula Vee champion and 2023 series leader Anthony Cross made it two wins from two starts after taking victory in the second round of the Selco.ie championship at Mondello Park on Saturday. His points haul was further boosted by the fact that runner up in round one Jack Byrne got putt off track causing him not to score any points in this round. Qualifying was very close as always with the top eight drivers covered by the same second. 

Lee Newsome and Colm Blackburn locked out the front row with Cross and Jack Byrne in third and fourth. Blackburn got the best start and moved ahead on Newsome on the run towards turn one. Cross slotted into third and then on the exit of turn two a missed gear by Newsome allowed Cross by on the run towards turn three. Blackburn held firm in the lead holding his racing line round the tight county Kildare track making it hard for those behind to get by. Further behind Ronan Doherty the young man from Antrim who has shown great pace already in his first year of racing collided with Sean Newsome at the final corner.

15-05-2023: Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The safety car was deployed for several laps to take Sean Newsome back to the paddock. On the restart Blackburn held the lead but only for a lap as Cross made his move going into turn one. Byrne tried to follow but was blocked but was successful a lap later. The front three were now out on their own and providing great entertainment for the spectators. Three abreast arriving into turn one each lap with only an inch between each other’s wheels. Cross though again showed why he is the current champion, keeping his laps tidy and smooth, holding his racing line making those behind work hard to try and get by. While under massive pressure he again soaked it all up. However, Blackburn had not given up just yet and got back into the lead in a move going into the esses. Cross responded immediately with a move round the outside at turn one which also let Byrne past by turn two. This move by Cross would prove vital in the outcome.

15-05-2023: Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Colm Blackburn, Leastone, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Two laps later Blackburn tried to go for a gap that wasn’t there and hit the back wheel of Byrne spinning him round at turn one. It was a shame as it was shaping up to be a last lap decider and it let Cross off the hook. With only a lap and a half remaining he maintained the small gap to Blackburn and Lee Newsome in third. Another victory won by not only on pace but by staying out of trouble. It is still early days in the championship but two maximum points scoring races in the bag already puts all the pressure on the rest to catch up. Afterwards the stewards of the meeting gave Blackburn a two-place penalty for careless driving.

15-05-2023: Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race as Jack Byrne, Sheane, spins out. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

15-05-2023: Anthony Cross, Sheane, leads Lee Newsome, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

15-05-2023: Lee Newsome, Sheane, on his way to second place the Selco.ie Formula Vee race as Jack Byrne, Sheane, spins out. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

15-05-2023: Dan Polley, Sheane, on his way to third place the Selco.ie Formula Vee race as Jack Byrne, Sheane, spins out. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Afterwards Cross was relieved to get the win. “Again, qualifying was tight, and I wanted to be on the front row but it wasn’t to be but I got a good start and got into second on lap two and settled in. It was a great race with Colm and Jack it was close the whole way. Then Jack was gone and I had a small gap to hold for the last lap so I just brought it home”.

15-05-2023: Anthony Cross, Sheane, on his way to winning the Selco.ie Formula Vee race as Jack Byrne, Sheane, spins out. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

McCallion Bags His First Win

15-05-2023: Sean McCallion, Sheane, on his way to winning the VW Spares Formula Veee Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

The VW Spares Formula Vee B Championship second round took place on Saturday at Mondello Park in county Kildare. Derry man Sean McCallion qualified in second place alongside fellow northern man Ronan Doherty. McCallion in his Sheane car has upped his pace further since round one of the championship at Kirkistown. In the very competitive B class, for drivers who have moved on from the rookie class and those who are rising the ranks towards the National class.

Doherty got his head down straight away taking the lead and setting the pace for the rest to catch in the opening laps. Whilst not in the same championship as McCallion he has proved quick enough to be on their pace to race and mix it with them but unable to score points in it and therefore not able to take points off them either. It meant McCallion had a hard task ahead of him as he could battle with Doherty or stick behind him and concentrate on his own race and try and score maximum points. He could easily get caught in a battle and make a mistake and end up in the gravel.

15-05-2023: Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads the field into turn 1 during the VW Spares Formula Veee Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Behind him were main rivals Robert Fleming and Ger Byrne now that round one winner Sean Newsome was a not starter after an off in qualifying. In the early laps he tried hard to hang on to Doherty but was also having to defend his position from Byrne and Fleming. Mondello Park is a tight circuit with only a couple of overtaking places, so while it can be relatively easy to defend on it also cost you time to those ahead if doing so.

That said Doherty was lapping a second quicker by the third lap. Then further down the field a nasty collision between Brendan Ellis and Colm O’Loughlen brought out the safety car. Thankfully both drivers were ok, but it would take a couple of laps to clear their cars. Doherty had to control the pace before the restart and try and build back up his hard worked lead. He duly did, but McCallion was hot on his heels for several laps which helped him break clear of those behind. Doherty reeled of the final laps to take the race win and victory in the LOH Motorsport rookie championship.

15-05-2023: Ger Byrne, Sheane,leads Kieran Hannan, Leastone, Robert Flemming, Sheane, and Andy Keogh, Sheane, during the VW Spares Formula Veee Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Though crossing the line in second McCallion took his maiden win in the VW Spares Championship. A fantastic result for the Derry man who has worked hard on hid car over the winter and now is getting his reaping the rewards.

15-05-2023: Robert Flemming, Sheane, leads Andy Keogh, Sheane, during the LOH Motorsport Formula Vee race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

15-05-2023: Sean McCallion, Sheane, on his way to winning the VW Spares Formula Veee Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Speaking after the race he said, “I had a few issues before qualifying with the carburettor’s but got them sorted just in time and got a good lap time in. I really enjoyed the race, but Ronan was on another level and is one to watch for the future. I stayed with him early on but couldn’t match him and I had to keep an eye on the boys behind but its still great to get my first with in the class. I’m looking forward to Bishopscourt in a few weeks”.

15-05-2023: Sean McCallion, with his trophy after winning the VW Spares Formula Veee Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Newcomer Doherty Bags His Second Win

 

Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Sean McCallion, Sheane, and Kieran Hannan, Leastone, on his way to winning the LOH Motorsport Formula Rookie Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

Dunloy youngster Ronan Doherty, claimed his second LOH Motorsport Formula Vee Championship on Saturday at Mondello Park in county Kildare. The county Antrim man in only his first year of racing has been a welcome surprise to the series this year. Already beating and battling with seasoned racers, the twenty-year-old has shown great pace and speed this year so far.

While a top sim racer the transition to the real thing has been effortless. In the opening round in Kirkistown he was already battling for the win in the next class up from his own but only for a mistake costing him the chance of a double victory. Qualifying on pole this time for the combined B/C race he looked to put amends to that and made a great start leading the fields into turn one. Leading fellow northern driver Sean McCallion who is in contention for the VW Spares championship, Doherty got his head down straight away setting the pace for the rest to catch. McCallion tried hard to hang on to Doherty but was also having to defend his position from Ger Byrne and Robert Fleming. Mondello Park is a tight circuit with only a couple of overtaking places, so while it can be relatively easy to defend on it also cost you time to those ahead if doing so.

Ronan Doherty, Sheane, on his way to winning the LOH Motorsport Formula Rookie Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.

That said Doherty was lapping a second quicker by the third lap. Then further down the field a nasty collision between Brendan Ellis and Colm O’Loughlen brought out the safety car. Thankfully both drivers were ok, but it would take a couple of laps to clear their cars. Doherty had to control the pace before the restart and try and build back up his hard worked lead. He duly did, immediately opening a gap to McCallion who himself broke clear of those behind. Doherty commanded the race and reeled of the final laps to take his first victory in a VW Spares B race and also victory in the LOH Motorsport rookie championship. Speaking afterwards a happy but slightly relieved winner gave his view of the race.

15-05-2023: Niall O'Mara, left, Leastone, battles with Stephen Roche, Sheane, on his way to second place in the LOH Motorsport Rookie Formula Veee Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

“I got a good start, but the clutch started slipping and I tried to let the team know as I went by them on the opening laps but thankfully during the safety car it seemed to fix itself and I got away again when it went in. I am delighted to get another win towards the championship.”

Ronan Doherty, Sheane, leads Sean McCallion, Sheane, and Kieran Hannan, Leastone, on his way to winning the LOH Motorsport Formula Rookie Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Jack Cregg.

Ronan Doherty, with his trophy after winning the LOH Motorsport Formula Rookie Championship race. ICCR, Mondello Park, Donore, Co. Kildare. Picture: Barry Cregg.